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and motioned for Vitale—who’d bemoaned Court’s recovery and had placed his food on the ground “as was fitting for an animal”—to come up.
    The old man gave him a lewd hand gesture, but the front door did sound soon after.
    â€œTell me about her,” he asked when Vitale had unlocked and entered the room.
    He cast Court a sour expression. “And why would I do that?”
    â€œBecause if you do I’ll no’ be so disposed to beating you down when I recover fully,” Court informed him as he leaned against the windowsill.
    Vitale swallowed hard.
    â€œI ken what you’re thinking, old man. You’re wondering what harm could come of it. None could. I harbor no ill will toward the woman who saved my life.”
    â€œWhat do you want to know?” he asked hesitantly.
    â€œWhere’s her family?”
    â€œHer parents are dead and her brother is away.” He added, “On business.”
    A vague answer, but Court didn’t press. “No husband? No other family she could stay with?”
    â€œShe and her brother are estranged from their relatives. And she was about to be married when Pascal came to power. Now escaping his notice is our top priority. Since you are his hired killer, I suppose we should have escaped your notice as well.”
    Court ignored the last comment. “And why is this place so deserted?”
    â€œMany fled Pascal. Some have gone to fight him. But you would know all about that, wouldn’t you?” He shook his head. “I told her to take you back to the river and let you rot, but she never listens—”
    â€œPascal ordered this done to me,” he interrupted. “How much loyalty do you think I have to the man who sought to kill me? I barely escaped into the river.”
    Vitale eyed him, clearly trying to determine if he spoke the truth, then asked, “Who beat you?”
    Court admitted, “Two Rechazados.”
    His eyes went wide, scanning the room wildly. “My God, you’ll bring them down on this house. Every day you’re here already weighs on her terribly. If you are in league with Pascal, she fears you’ll lead his men here. Now when I tell her what you’ve told me, she’ll know that Pascal’s assassins will be searching for you to finish the job.”
    Pascal would be searching, but there weren’t enough of his prized assassins to spare. “He will no’ waste any Rechazado for a task like me.” Their order never numbered more than forty-nine based on a twisted reading of the seven letters of the Apocalypse, and if they lost men they still only inducted new ones twice a year. “Besides, they’ll have thought I died.”
    Vitale marched to the second window to peer out though he couldn’t have expected to see Annalía. Court knew she’d be well out of sight by now. “Why should I trust what you say?”
    â€œYou probably should no’.” He unsuccessfully crossed his arms, too late remembering the bloody cast she’d forced on him. “I want to talk to her, but she will no’ come back. Get her to.”
    â€œThe mademoiselle? Attend you now that you’re awake?” He snorted.
    â€œIf she will no’ come to me, then I’ll have to stumble out to find her.” His expression turned cold. “You ought to warn her that I might feel . . . put out when I catch her.”
    He stepped back. “I will see that she comes tomorrow.” “After her ride?”
    Vitale scowled at that. “If she knew you spied on her, she’d be very uneasy. She’s an extremely private person. But yes, after her ride.”
    Court nodded. “I need to get a message to my men. If I give you directions, can you see that it is done?”
    â€œAgain, why would I do that?”
    â€œThe sooner I contact them, the sooner I can leave.”
    â€œI’ll return directly with pen and